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How To Be Green? 10 Tips To Save Money, Conserve Energy and Stay Healthy This Winter

I cannot believe it myself but winter is quickly approaching and now is the time to get ready to enjoy the winter season. Here are 10 tips for consumers to save money, conserve energy and stay healthy this winter.

1.Maintain your heating equipment to lower utility bills - Heating and cooling costs account for about $1,000 -- nearly half of a home's total annual energy bill which can be a big hit to the average family. Keep those costs low by maintaining the efficiency of your home's heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system. Dirt and neglect can impact the efficiency of your HVAC system and are some of the top causes of heating system failure. Schedule an HVAC checkup with a licensed HVAC contractor to make sure your system is operating at peak performance. Another great tip is to check your system’s air filter every month and change it when it's dirty or at a minimum, every three months. A dirty filter will slow down air flow and make the system work harder to keep you warm or cool — wasting energy. 2. Download EPA’s free Apps to help protect your health - The EPA has created some pretty nifty apps like The AIRNow app which allows users to enter a zip code and get current particle pollution and ozone levels and forecasts for more than 400 cities across the country. The Ultraviolet (UV) Index provides an hourly forecast of the UV radiation levels from the sun. Both are available for Apple and Android phones.You can learn more about these apps and the others at EPA.

3. Decorate for the holidays with Energy Star light strings that can last up to 10 times longer than traditional lights - Did you know that if every decorative light string sold in the U.S. this year were Energy
Star qualified, Americans would save $80 million in utility bills and
one billion pounds of greenhouse gas emissions would be prevented. Energy Star-qualified light strings use about 65 percent less electricity than incandescent light strings and are available in a variety of colors, shapes and lengths. They save energy and are more durable, shock-resistant and cooler to the touch.

4. Lower the temperature in your home and increase savings by up to 12 percent - Control your home’s temperature while away or asleep by using one of the pre-programmed settings. Programming the thermostat to turn the temperature down 8 degrees for 7 hours each night and an additional 7 hours each weekday could result in a seasonal heating savings of approximately 12 percent. For the average home, this could result in savings of about $180.

5. Check for water leaks and install WaterSense products to save approximately $170 per year - The average household spends as much as $500 per year on their water and sewer bill, but approximately $170 per year can be saved by installing water-efficient fixtures and appliances. http://www.epa.gov/watersense 6. Reduce your food waste. Feed people, not landfills. Food is the single largest type of waste going to landfills and incinerators. Americans disposed of approximately 33 million tons of food waste in 2010. When excess food, leftover food, and food scraps are disposed of in a landfill, they decompose and become a significant source of methane - a potent greenhouse gas. Much of the food that is discarded in landfills is actually safe, wholesome food that could have been used to feed people. So when you are thinking about making your family dinner, think about how you can reduce your food waste to save money, help communities, and protect the environment.

6. Feed people, not landfills - Food is the single largest type of waste going to landfills and incinerators. Americans disposed of approximately 33 million tons of food waste in 2010. When excess food, leftover food, and food scraps are disposed of in a landfill, they decompose and become a significant source of methane - a potent greenhouse gas. Much of the food that is discarded in landfills is actually safe, wholesome food that could have been used to feed people. So when you are thinking about making your family dinner, think about how you can reduce your food waste to save money, help communities, and protect the environment.

7. Look for the Design for the Environment label on more than 2,800 products during winter cleaning when windows and doors stay shut tight - EPA's Designed for the Environment (DfE) logo differentiates products that use only the safest ingredients to protect people, our pets, and the environment. In 2011, Americans using DfE products cut the use of harmful chemicals by more than 756 million pounds.

8. Test your home for radon gas, 1 in 15 homes may have elevated levels - Radon, a colorless odorless gas, is the leading cause of lung cancer among non-smokers and in the colder months, levels can increase. Purchase an affordable Do-It-Yourself test kit online or at a local hardware store to determine the level in your home. Addressing high levels often costs the same as other minor home repairs. 9. Learn before you burn and cut firewood use by more than 30 percent - The Burn Wise program has best burn practices to help better protect your home and your health. Never burn garbage, cardboard, ocean driftwood or wet wood. If you replace an old wood stove with a more efficient one, efficiency can increase by 50 percent, 1/3 less wood can be used for the same heat and 70 percent less particle pollution indoors and out are produced.

10. Prevent Pests - You know it happens every year, now is the time when pests such as insects and rodents will head for warmer weather by trying to move into your home. Eliminate sources of food, water, and shelter to reduce pest problems, but also prevent pests by using caulk to eliminate cracks, repair water leaks and remove clutter.

P.S.- People always ask me where I get my organic food and personal care products and I love to tell them about The Green PolkaDot Box! Backed by the Organic Consumer's Association and EnvironmentalBooty.com, you can easily buy NonGMO organic groceries, including Harvest Fresh Organic produce, at wholesale pricing online. It's like a Sam's club but focused on products for green, healthy living! You can even shop by dietary restrictions like gluten free, vegan or diabetic and it all comes right to your front door. Enjoy!

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What started out as a journey almost a decade ago to live a healthier life and share the message with others, has developed into a career helping clients in all types of industries develop digital media strategies.

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